Upright vacuum cleaner incorporating telescopic handle and wand assembly with electrified hose

ABSTRACT

An upright vacuum cleaner is equipped with a hose and telescopic handle and wand assembly that are both electrified. In addition, the vacuum cleaner includes a powered cleaning tool attachment. The powered cleaning tool attachment includes (a) a headlight, (b) a rotary agitator and rotary agitator drive motor and/or (c) a booster fan and a booster fan drive motor. Each of these accessories of the tool attachment are powered through the hose and telescopic handle and wand assembly.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/599,698 filed on 6 Aug. 2004.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the floor care equipmentfield and, more particularly, to an upright vacuum cleaner equipped withan electrified hose and telescopic handle and wand assembly as well as apowered cleaning tool attachment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A vacuum cleaner is an electromechanical appliance utilized to effectthe dry removal of dust, dirt and other small debris from carpets, rugs,fabrics or other surfaces in both domestic and industrial environments.In order to achieve the desired dirt and dust removal, a rotary agitatoris provided to beat dirt and dust from the nap of the carpet and apressure drop or vacuum is used to force air entrained with this dirtand dust into the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner. The particulate-ladenair is then drawn through a bag-like filter, a dirt cup or a cyclonicseparation chamber and filter combination which traps the dirt and dust,while substantially clean air is exhausted by an electrically operatedfan that is driven by an on board motor. It is this fan and motorarrangement that generates the drop in air pressure necessary to providethe desired cleaning action. Thus, the fan and motor arrangement iscommonly known as the vacuum or suction generator.

Upright vacuum cleaners are presently very popular with consumers. Anupright vacuum cleaner comprises a nozzle assembly and canister assemblythat are pivotally connected together. The nozzle assembly includes asuction inlet and a rotary agitator. The nozzle assembly and canisterassembly glide across the floor on wheels so as to allow for ease ofcleaning.

It is known in the art to provide upright vacuum cleaners with a hoseand specialty tools to allow for above floor cleaning such as offurniture, upholstery or drapes or to allow cleaning in tight corners orareas where furniture or other impediments prevent the nozzle assemblyfrom being moved across the floor to provide the desired cleaning. Todate, the hose and wand assemblies on upright vacuum cleaners are notelectrically powered and the cleaning tools for wands on an uprightvacuum cleaner are simple brushes or crevice tools without electricallypowered features or accessories. This limits both their cleaning powerand usefulness.

The present invention addresses this problem by providing an uprightvacuum cleaner with an electrified hose and wand assembly and a poweredcleaning tool attachment including a motor driven rotary agitator, aheadlight and/or a booster fan for additional cleaning power.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the purposes of the present invention as describedherein, an improved upright vacuum cleaner is provided. The uprightvacuum cleaner includes a nozzle assembly having a suction inlet and acanister assembly pivotally connected to the nozzle assembly. Both asuction generator and a dirt collection vessel are carried on one of thecanister assembly and the nozzle assembly. In addition, a telescopichandle and wand assembly is carried on one of the canister assembly andthe nozzle assembly. The telescopic handle and wand assembly includes afirst end in communication with the suction inlet and a second end incommunication with the dirt collection vessel. A hose is providedbetween the second end of the handle and wand assembly and the dirtcollection vessel. The hose and telescopic wand assembly include a pairof electrical conductors for supplying electric current to a distal endof the telescopic handle and wand assembly.

The telescopic handle and wand assembly includes a first section and asecond section forming a telescoping air path. Further, the telescopichandle and wand assembly includes a control hand grip. One of thecanister assembly and nozzle assembly includes a connector and the firstend of the telescopic handle and wand assembly is releaseably held inthat connector.

In accordance with an additional aspect of the present invention apowered cleaning tool attachment is provided for the upright vacuumcleaner. The powered cleaning tool attachment includes a rotary agitatorand a rotary agitator drive motor, a headlight and/or a booster fan andbooster fan drive motor. Further, the cleaning tool attachment includesa selector control switch which allows one to selectively energize anyof the various electrical accessories provided on the attachment.

In the following description there is shown and described a preferredembodiment of this invention simply by way of illustration of one of themodes best suited to carry out the invention. As it will be realized,the invention is capable of other different embodiments and its severaldetails are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects allwithout departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings anddescriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not asrestrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawing incorporated in and forming a part of thespecification, illustrates several aspects of the present invention, andtogether with the description serves to explain certain principles ofthe invention. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side elevational view of an upright vacuumcleaner of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating the handle and wandassembly in a manual cleaning position and equipped with a poweredcleaning tool attachment; and

FIG. 3 is a schematical block diagram illustrating the electricalcircuitry of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodimentof the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the present invention relates to an uprightvacuum cleaner 10 including a housing comprising both a nozzle assembly12 and a canister assembly 14. The canister assembly 14 is pivotallyconnected to the nozzle assembly 12. The upright vacuum cleaner 10 ridesover the floor surface being cleaned on wheels 15 carried on thehousing.

The nozzle assembly 12 includes a suction inlet 16. A rotary agitator 18carried on the nozzle assembly 12 is mounted adjacent to or in thesuction inlet 16. The rotary agitator 18 includes bristle tufts 20,brushes, wipers or the like to beat dirt and debris from the nap of anunderlying carpet being cleaned as the agitator is rotated at highspeeds with respect to that carpet and the nozzle assembly 12.

The canister assembly 14 includes a dirt collection vessel 22 housed ina receiver or internal cavity 23. In the illustrated embodiment the dirtcollection vessel 22 is a dust bag of permeable filter material adaptedto entrap dirt and debris while allowing the passage of clean airthrough the bag. In an alternative embodiment the dirt collection vessel22 may take the form of a dirt cup and filter combination. Such a dirtcup may or may not provide for cyclonic air flow.

The canister assembly 14 also includes a telescopic handle and wandassembly generally designated by reference numeral 24. The telescopichandle and wand assembly 24 includes first and second telescopic wandsections 26, 28 connected together by a locking coupler 30 similar tothe structure shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,474 to Ohara etal. and owned by the assignee of the present invention. A control handgrip 32, including a multiposition actuator switch 33, is provided atthe end of the wand section 26 opposite the coupler 30. The end 60 ofthe wand section 28 opposite the coupler 30 is received in a connector34 mounted to the rear of the canister assembly 14. A flexible hose 36extends from the control handle 32 to the inlet 38 connected to the dirtcollection vessel 22. A power cord 35 includes a plug 37 for connectingto a standard electrical wall outlet 0 and providing power for thevacuum cleaner (see also FIG. 3).

During standard floor cleaning operation, the rotary agitator 18 scrubsand beats dirt and debris from the nap of an underlying carpet beingcleaned. A suction generator 40 draws air entrained with that dirt anddebris through the suction inlet 16, the connector 34, the wand section28, the wand section 26, the control handle 32, the hose 36 and theinlet 38 into the dirt collection vessel 22. The dirt and debris iscaptured in the dirt collection vessel 22 while the now relatively cleanair is drawn over the motor of the suction generator 40 in order toprovide cooling. That air is then exhausted through a final filter (notshown) and returned to the environment through the exhaust port 41.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 the telescopic handle and wand assembly 24includes a second or distal end that is removable from the canisterassembly 14 to allow manipulation and specialty cleaning. Morespecifically, the distal end of the wand section 28 is removable fromthe connector 34 by means of a releasable locking mechanism such asdescribed in, for example, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.60/598,749 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,429 to Martin et al. owned by theassignee of the present invention. The telescopic sections 26, 28 of thehandle and wand assembly 24 may then be retracted or extended byoperation of the locking coupler 30 to produce a wand of desired length.The handle and wand assembly 24 is then manipulated by the operatorthrough the control handle 32. In this mode of operation air includingdirt and debris is drawn directly into the open distal end of the handleand wand assembly 24. That air then travels through the wand section 28,the wand section 26, the control handle 32, the hose 36 and the inlet 38into the dirt collection vessel 22. There the dirt becomes trapped andclean air then passes over the motor of the suction generator 40 beforebeing exhausted through the final filter into the environment.

In accordance with the present invention, it should be appreciated thatthe hose 36 and the handle and wand assembly 24 are electrified; thatis, include first and second conductors 42, 44 for distributing currentto a powered cleaning tool attachment 50 when it is attached to the freeor second end 60 of the handle and wand assembly 24. Such a poweredcleaning tool attachment 50 may include various electrical accessoriessuch as, for example, a rotary agitator 52 and associated drive motor56, a headlight 54 and/or a booster fan and booster fan drive motor 58for greater cleaning efficiency. Any or all of these accessories receiveelectric current through the conductors 42, 44 and are powered throughthe hose 36 and the handle and wand assembly 24.

FIG. 3 is a schematical illustration of the control circuit. The vacuumcleaner 10 is powered by electricity received from a standard electricalwall outlet 0. More specifically, the plug 37 of the power cord 35 isplugged into the outlet 0. Electricity runs through the power cord 35 tothe actuator switch 33 which allows the operator to selectively energizeand operate certain electrical systems or accessories of the vacuumcleaner. For example, in one position of the switch 33, all electricalsystems of the vacuum cleaner 10 are off. In another position, the motorof the suction generator 40 is energized through the power line 62. Inyet another position, electricity is directed by the actuator switch 33to run through the conductors 42, 44 in the wand assembly 24 and hose 36to energize the headlight 54, agitator drive motor 56 and booster fan58. If desired, an optional selector control switch 65 may be providedon the attachment 50 between the conductors 42, 44 and the headlight 54,agitator drive motor 56 and booster fan 58. Such a control switch 65 maybe manipulated by the operator to selectively energize any one or all ofthe electrically powered accessories provided on the power cleaning toolattachment 50.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the inventionhas been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the preciseform disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible inlight of the above teachings. For example, the hose 36 may bedisconnected from the handle and wand assembly 24 and the poweredcleaning tool 50 attached directly to the free end of the hose ifdesired. Of course, the handle and wand assembly 24 and hose 36 may alsobe provided with a ground wire 70 in conjunction with the conductors 42,44.

The embodiment was chosen and described to provide the best illustrationof the principles of the invention and its practical application tothereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the inventionin various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited tothe particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variationsare within the scope of the invention as determined by the appendedclaims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they arefairly, legally and equitably entitled. The drawings and preferredembodiment do not and are not intended to limit the ordinary meaning ofthe claims and their fair and broad interpretation in any way.

1. An upright vacuum cleaner, comprising: a nozzle assembly including a suction inlet; a canister assembly pivotally connected to said nozzle assembly; a suction generator carried on one of said canister assembly and said nozzle assembly; a dirt collection vessel carried on one of said canister assembly and said nozzle assembly; a telescopic handle and wand assembly carried on one of said canister assembly and said nozzle assembly, said telescopic handle and wand assembly including a first end in communication with said suction inlet and a second end in communication with said dirt collection vessel; and a hose between said second end of said telescopic handle and wand assembly and said dirt collection vessel; said hose and telescopic handle and wand assembly including a pair of electrical conductors for supplying electric current to a distal end of said telescopic handle and wand assembly.
 2. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said telescopic handle and wand assembly includes a first section and a second section forming a telescoping air path.
 3. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein said telescopic handle and wand assembly includes a control hand grip.
 4. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein one of said canister assembly and said nozzle assembly includes a connector and said first end of said telescopic handle and wand assembly is releaseably held in said connector.
 5. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein a rotary agitator is carried by said nozzle assembly adjacent said suction inlet.
 6. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further including a powered cleaning tool attachment.
 7. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein said powered cleaning tool attachment includes a rotary agitator and a rotary agitator drive motor.
 8. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein said powered cleaning tool attachment includes a headlight.
 9. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein said powered cleaning tool attachment includes a booster fan and booster fan drive motor.
 10. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein said powered cleaning tool attachment includes a rotary agitator, a rotary agitator drive motor and a headlight.
 11. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 10, further including a selector control switch on said powered cleaning tool attachment.
 12. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein said powered cleaning tool attachment includes a rotary agitator, a rotary agitator drive motor, a booster fan and a booster fan drive motor.
 13. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 12, further including a selector control switch on said powered cleaning tool attachment.
 14. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein said powered cleaning tool attachment includes a headlight, a booster fan and a booster fan drive motor.
 15. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 14, further including a selector control switch on said powered cleaning tool attachment.
 16. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein said powered cleaning tool attachment includes a headlight, a rotary agitator, a rotary agitator drive motor, a booster fan and a booster fan drive motor.
 17. The upright vacuum cleaner of claim 16, further including a selector control switch on said powered cleaning tool attachment. 